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, ' f t . r| .| , n ue^i, ,M». I », 4 ylf l. . w 1 • ii Wheels/Insert Dodge Sprints to large families News/8 Grading the politicians ♦ Pressrun 24,150 ♦ Founded 1854 ♦ JUNE 29, 2005 ♦ 48 Pages ♦ Optional 3 Week Delivery $5/$1 Newsstand_ Ontario Power Generation takes action against Hydro One union $50 million statement of, claim filed BY JENNIFER STONE Staff writer CLARINGTON -- Ontario Power Generation has filed a statement of claim for $50 million million in damages against a striking striking Hydro One union, along with a motion limiting picketing at all OPG facilities, including including Darlington and Pickering Nuclear Generating Stations. The move comes amid measures measures by OPG to ask some essential staff to sleep overnight overnight at area plants, some at triple regular pay, to ensure they were on hand to keep the plant running, in the event of picketing, picketing, as occurred last Thursday. That's when hundreds of Darlington Darlington employees were unable to enter the plant in time for their scheduled shift, and many others were required to,put in overtime to ensure the plant kept running. Last week's picketing resulted in a number of road closures and traffic tie-ups in the area of Darlington. According to the claim, filed with the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, OPG argued that, it has "lost the value of the services services of employees and contractors who were delayed or denied access to its facilities." The claim also asks for repayment repayment for overtime wages that had to be paid, along with van, bus, helicopter and boat rentals used in an effort to get essential staff to work. OPG is also seeking seeking compensation for the value of electricity output lost as a result of picketing. OPG has lost "tens of thousands thousands of megawatt hours of production" as a result of vari ous pickets outside OPG-owned power plants across the province, province, said spokeswoman Jacquie Mclnnes. Not only that, but the striking has caused "hardship on many of our workers and their families, between those staying in the plant, sleeping there, not going home to their families, plus those who were sitting outside outside their plants in their cars" as the picketers allowed, in some cases, only one car every 15 minutes through the gates, said Ms. Mclnnes. "It is really difficult to accept this, given they're not even striking against us," said Ms. Mclnnes. About 1,000 Hydro One workers, including engineers and technicians, with the Society Society of Energy Professionals, have been on strike since early June, protesting a contract offer that includes wage and ben- See STATEMENT, page 5 Newcastle getting into the swim mm Council disregards Consultant, Cotes for pool instead of fwin-pad arena BY JENNIFER STONE Staff writer ' V NEWCASTLE -- Clarington council voted Monday to disregard disregard a consultant's report calling for a new twin pad arena for, Newcastle, opting Instead to go ahead with a leisure and therapy pool, gymnasium gymnasium and program and meeting rooms. •|The new Ruddell Road facility, slated to. get under construction construction in fall, 2006, was always meant to be an aquatic centre, said Clarington Clarington Mayor John Mutton. "It's amazing, the amount of feedback I've had" since the consultant's study calling for a twin pad arena, instead of a pool, was presented last week, said the mayor. The mayor had announced : the aquatic facility about three years ago, as part of the so- called "recreation wave" intended to provide facilities across thè municipality. "I do believe (the community) thought the twin pad arena was Gord Robinson going to be ancillary to the aquatic facility," said Mayor Mutton. Local councillor Gord Robinson Robinson said he got the same message message from constituents. "The public came forward, and said they thought all along, for the last three years, that it was going to be an aquatic facility. They thought any other facilities would be in addition to that," said Coun. Robinson. Consultants Monteith Brown had been hired to complete a needs assessment for the facility, facility, and reported back last week to the Clarington General Purpose and Administration Administration committee that first phase of the facility should . include the twin pad arenas along with a gymnasium and other programming rooms. According to the consultant,, the pool could wait until 2015-2016, when Newcastle's population has increased. In response the mayor had asked staff to look at financing financing to build both the arena and aquatic side, but the Municipality Municipality simply couldn't afford to do both, said Mayor Mutton. Staff estimates indicate the aquatic-based facility will cost just over $15 million. The arena will be part of the second phase of the project, said Mayor Mutton. See MUNICIPAL, page 7 A. J. Groen/The Canadian Statesman Peewee Gaels fit to be tied in West Durham PICKERING-- Clarington Gaels' Bob Hood (17) heads up the floor with several members of the West Durham Rock in hot pursuit during the teams' roimd robin match in the West Durham Rock Lacrosse Tournament held at the Don Beer Arena. After tying all three of their round-robin matches against the Rock, Niagara on the Lake and Mimico, the Gaels bowed out u tying the semifinals in a rematch with West Durham. Water ban in effect,for east Durham BY CARLY FOSTER Staff writer DURHAM -- Let the grass go dry and your flowers wilt: the Region has imposed a total ban on all outdoor, non-essential water use in Oshawa, Whitby, Brooklin and Clarington. That means residents and businesses businesses are not to water thé lawn or garden or wash cars, said Thom Sloley, plant operations manger with the regional works department. /, "We don't want to be alarmist," he said. "But we don't want to get into the position where we run out." ' Running out of water in Durham's Durham's reservoirs could be dangerous dangerous in emergency situations where fire trucks are needed, he said. If the reservoirs continue to drop, as they have been over the past few days, the Region may have to cut back the supply -- resulting in lower water pressure pressure in homes. "If this week remains hot and humid with no rain, everyone starts looking at their grass and See WATER,, page 7 % yScN. fr-s ONTARIO'S 85815 • SERVICE • PARTS MON.; WED., FRI. 7:30 am - 6:00 pm TUES. &THURS. 7:30 am - 8:00 pm SAT. : 9:00 am - 4:00 pm ACCREDITED TEST , & REPAIR FACILITY WHITBY OSHAWA Honda Z- - ■ ■' > 300 THICKSON RD. S. WHITBY § 0 >666-1772 honda l www.hende1.com a Fire officials discourage backyard displays DURHAM--The Office of the Ontario Fire Marshal is encouraging encouraging residents to check out organized organized fireworks displays this holiday holiday weekend, instead of creating their own in the backyard. According to the Office of the Fire Marshal (OFM), there have already been numerous incidents in the province this year related to the misuse of fireworks. Over the Victoria Day long weekend one fire, believed to have been caused by fireworks, destroyed two homes and three cars, causing over $600,000 in damage. The OFM and local fire services recommend that residents attend fireworks displays organized by responsible organizations, such as municipalities. "Fireworks are extremely' dangerous dangerous and should be left to fireworks professionals who are trained to handle and discharge them safely," said Ontario Fire Marshal Bernard Moyle. "The misuse of fireworks by children and young adults is shocking. Children are holding them in their hands and firing them at others with no regard for the potential risk of personal injury and fire." Under Clarington's bylaw, only those over the age of 21 are legally legally permitted to light fireworks, said Fire and Emergency Services Chief Gord Weir. Those who are using fireworks should take safety precautions, including keeping a hose or bucket bucket of water nearby, using a bucket of sand for fireworks to ensure they don't flip over on their sides, not trying to relight 'duds', and giving the wick an appropriate amount of time to set off the fireworks, fireworks, said the chief. Fireworks "must be used cautiously," cautiously," said Chief Weir. The bylaw also states that fireworks fireworks may only be sold in the five days leading up to Victoria Day and Canada Day, said the Chief. In spite of possible safety precautions, precautions, Chief Weir suggests foregoing home fireworks displays, displays, and going to see any of thé many professional-type fireworks taking place around Durham Region. In Clarington, the Courtice Rotary Club has a fireworks event which kicks off at 5 p.m. at the Garnet B. Rickard Recreation Complex, Hwy. 2 and Regional Rd. 57, with fireworks slated to begin around 9:30 p.m. For those who still opt for backyard backyard displays or informal neighbourhood neighbourhood events, Oshawa Fire Chief Steve Meringer encourages them to read the firework safety See CAUTION, page 5 ft*--THTTf w I iJ i V I # 1 1 in 11 à i, e pH S » . t ' w 9| \ I afi . i I I ; ' .X* f A l La: m i Here at Cowan's we want everyone to know what they are purchasing., 1 Our vehicle Birth Certificate for every General Motora product Includee, full warranty history, the vehicle's build, original warranty start date, original selling dealer! All completely documented! We pride ourselves In not stocking or selling out of province dally rentslsll